You are probably aware that we, as a congregation, have been abundantly blessed time and time again since Katrina, through numerous gifts of supplies, artwork, money, love and time from fellow UUs from all over. This week we are the recipients of a particularly heartfelt gift from the youth of First Parish of Needham, MA. Led by the Rev. John Buehrens, the group cleaned out and refurnished the D'Orlando Memorial Chapel, which will now be used as a space for our youth to gather on Sunday mornings, and for other small congregational gatherings during the rest of the week.
Meanwhile, the container garden planted by the Earth Scouts last week is thriving, and the group will meet again next week, March 9, to continue their focus on human rights. The coming weeks will find the Scouts visiting community gardens, discussing the concept of food justice and working on plans for hands-on social action in the larger community.
The First UU youth are hard at work planning our first Youth Sunday worship service since 2005; the Chalice Children class has been exploring the role of imagination and dreams; and the Spirit of Adventure class is examining Unitarian Universalism through the lenses of sports, medicine and science.
The Spring will find us beginning classes for Our Whole Lives(OWL) comprehensive sexuality education curriculum, for grades 7 through 9. Stay tuned for details on times and dates, and please don't hesitate to get in touch with questions or concerns. I am extremely proud of the OWL program and consider responsible sex-ed to be vital, life affirming work.
All of these events are only possible due to the enthusiastic efforts of our dedicated teaching volunteers. Ann Maclaine, Gail Lazaras, Esther Scott, Michael Tucker, Emily Danielson, Max Oeschger and Anna Reine, as well as the Earth Scouts facilitators who come to us by way of the Conscious Living Covenant Group, are all deserving of a great big thanks. If you pass them in the hallway, give a big thumbs-up or better yet, ask how you can help.
With many thanks for gifts received and high hopes for our ongoing opportunities for growth - Coleen Murphy
